PIAZZA DEL POPOLO is one of the most famous squares of Rome. Its name translates as People's Square. We discuss whether the name comes from the chapel in 1099 lifted the people of Rome on the site where today is the convent of Santa Maria del Popolo or by the abundance of poplar trees in this area (poplar is Pioppo in Italian and Latin populus).

The Square is located at the north gate of the Aurelian Walls were, where before the door Flaminia was just the beginning of the Via Flaminia, which in imperial times was the main road to the north. The current design of the square is the neoclassical style by architect Giuseppe Valadier between 1811 and 1822, who dealt with the demolition of some buildings to give the square of two semicircles harmonious. This design breaks with the trapezoidal shape centered on the Via Flaminia of ancient plaza, instead of him, the two semicircles are clearly reminiscent of the de San Pedro Square, by Bernini.